More mums and dads adamant Scunthorpe General Hospital maternity unit should not shut

MORE mums and dads have reacted with fury to news the maternity unit at Scunthorpe General Hospital could close.

Parents who had babies at the unit say shutting it would be a hammer blow for the town. And they have today spelt out why the unit should remain open.

Michelle Henderson, 29, of Scunthorpe – who had an emergency caesarean at the unit – said: "It would be a terrible thing for the town if it shut.

"I was rushed into hospital to have an emergency caesarean two weeks early and if I was told I would have to travel further to have my son, it may have been a disaster."

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Rosie Wheldrake, 27, of Scunthorpe, has three children – Jessica, 7, Ashley, 6 and Emily, 3. She is two weeks away from the due date of her fourth child.

She said: "I had some problems with the birth of my first child and the hospital was very good at monitoring me frequently.

"Because of the complications, it would have been a nightmare if I was made to travel to Grimsby and I would not have wanted a home birth."

Claire Willis, 29, of Scunthorpe, said: "Scunthorpe General maternity services were great and the staff were very helpful.

"Emily was born the wrong way round so I had a caesarean.

"The midwives were very supportive and helped me with everything."

Sarah-Jane Ramshaw, of Broughton, has a nine-week- old son – Jack – and a three-year-old girl called Gracie. Both were born at Scunthorpe General Hospital.

She said: "It would be so sad if they shut it and think it would be a real disgrace."

Emma Collingwood, 23, of Scunthorpe, has a three-year- old daughter called Elsie-May Shearman.

She said: "I wouldn't want to travel any further than Scunthorpe. I had a quick birth, so could not have waited any longer by travelling somewhere further away.

"It would be a massive shame if we lost the maternity unit."

Alex Summerfield, 33, of Scunthorpe, said: "I have three daughters – Millie, 3, Sophia, 2, and Aaliyah, 5 months – all born in Scunthorpe General Hospital. If we lost the maternity service in this town, then it would be a real shame."

And Donna Lester, 32, of Kirton, whose four-year-old daughter Sophie was born in Scunthorpe, added: "We need a local maternity service, but ours needs a lot of improvement. It just needs some money spent on it to improve it."

What do you think? viewpoint@scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk